a Changes are coming to the world of women’s soccer, and the familiar coaching structure is about to change.
Important detail: FIFA will now require all teams in women’s tournaments to include at least one female head coach or assistant coach.
Why FIFA requires female coaches in women’s tournaments
The new regulations will take effect from the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in September of this year, and will be fully implemented at major tournaments such as the 2027 Brazil Women’s World Cup, Women’s Champions Cup and the inaugural Women’s Club World Cup.
The move is part of FIFA’s wider efforts to address the lack of women in leadership roles at soccer’s highest level.
“There are just not enough women in coaching today,” says Jill Ellis. “We must do more to accelerate change by creating clearer pathways, expanding opportunities and increasing the visibility of women on the sidelines.”
FIFA has positioned the rule as both a structural change and a long-term investment, combining mandatory requirements with expanded coaching development and education programs.
This regulation is in response to a clear disparity. At the 2023 Women’s World Cup, only 12 of the 32 teams had female head coaches. Since then, their number has decreased even more, and some of the teams have switched to male leadership.
Even more surprising, none of the six teams in that competition had a female coach, either head coach or assistant, highlighting the magnitude of the imbalance.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino acknowledged the problem earlier this year, saying that football needs to do more to support women in leadership roles. “We should support more women in soccer positions…Maybe women’s teams need more women coaches,” he said.
The new rules are significant because they directly target representatives at the highest level of the sport. Although the profile and commercial value of women’s football is growing rapidly, the role of coaching has not kept pace.
By mandating female representation on coaching staffs, FIFA is creating immediate opportunities while building a pipeline for future head coaches.
This could have a ripple effect across domestic leagues and youth systems, where coaching paths often begin. Increased visibility in international tournaments may encourage more former players to transition into coaching careers.
While the policy is broadly framed as a necessary step forward, its implementation and effectiveness are likely to spark debate.
Proponents argue that without structural intervention, progress will remain slow. But critics may question whether mandates alone can address deeper institutional barriers, such as access to coaching education or bias in hiring.
Still, the presence of high-profile female coaches at international level highlights the potential impact. The likes of Emma Hayes, Sarina Wigman and Gemma Grainger have already proven their success at the top level.
The focus now shifts to how the federation adapts for upcoming tournaments. Teams must identify and incorporate qualified female coaches into their staff structure in time for compliance.
In the long term, FIFA’s success is likely to be measured not just by the number of participants, but also by the number of women in senior leadership roles, including head coaching positions.
